{"id":46646,"date":"2020-07-31T08:41:06","date_gmt":"2020-07-31T12:41:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=46646"},"modified":"2020-08-03T07:50:51","modified_gmt":"2020-08-03T11:50:51","slug":"how-can-emu-keep-from-singing-physically-distanced-outdoor-singing-session-is-a-trial-run-for-choir-this-fall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2020\/how-can-emu-keep-from-singing-physically-distanced-outdoor-singing-session-is-a-trial-run-for-choir-this-fall\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018How Can EMU Keep From Singing?\u2019 Physically  distanced outdoor singing session is a trial run for choir this fall"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"An Experiment in Distanced Singing\" width=\"848\" height=\"477\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/buXsSSCqXLM?start=8&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This summer, Eastern Mennonite University music professor <strong>Benjamin Bergey<\/strong> has been reading&#8230;and reading&#8230;and reading. For a while, not a week would go by without more new information about aerosolization, how particles are spread, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/06\/09\/arts\/music\/choirs-singing-coronavirus-safe.html\">the role of speaking or singing in viral transmission of COVID-19<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Top of mind for Bergey, who directs EMU\u2019s large University Choir and the smaller Chamber Singers: When classes reconvene for fall semester, can he find a way to bring his vocalists together safely?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2020\/07\/2020721-C19-Singing-News-features2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46654\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2020\/07\/2020721-C19-Singing-News-features2.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2020\/07\/2020721-C19-Singing-News-features2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2020\/07\/2020721-C19-Singing-News-features2-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption>Professor Benjamin Bergey adjusts equipment in preparation for a test run with physically distanced volunteer singers in front of Lehman Auditorium.  <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Singing indoors in an enclosed space is now widely recognized as having the potential to be a \u201csuper-spreader event\u201d for COVID-19 and choir directors are urged to find other creative ways to rehearse, according to the Performing Arts Medical Association and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nats.org\/cgi\/page.cgi\/_article.html\/Featured_Stories_\/NATS_COVID_Resources_Page\">other sources<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On a recent scorching Sunday afternoon outside Lehman Auditorium, Bergey convened a group of local students to test process, timing, and technology \u2013 an experiment for his EMU singers but also as a model for other choral groups who might be interested in creative measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The masked singers, 13 invitees in all, were positioned 12 feet apart with wireless microphones. Bergey wanted to test two methods for hearing each other with such distant spacing. The first method was to send the sound output through an FM transmitter and equip each singer with an individual FM radio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The group, however, was unable to find a channel that worked. (\u201cAll I hear rap,\u201d said one singer. \u201cThat\u2019s probably just in your brain,\u201d chimed in another.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The second method, using a loudspeaker, worked best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How could they keep from singing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Through all the tumult and the strife,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>I hear that music ringing<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>It finds an echo in my soul<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>How can I keep from singing?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To a silent campus &#8230;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Don&#8217;t be afraid. My love is stronger than your fear.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>And I have promised, promised to be always near.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To drying leaves and withered bark \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Rain down<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Rain down<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Rain down your love on your people<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They called out the numbers of hymns to sing, to hear: 118, 124, 105, 495\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bergey played the keyboards. Amidst mutual urging, department chair Professor <strong>David Berry<\/strong> left videography behind and took over accompaniment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For most, it was the first singing together in company for at least six months. Virtual singing was no match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bergey called for one final hymn. &#8220;606&#8221; was the answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Praise God, from whom all blessings flow<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think we\u2019ll stop there,\u201d Bergey said. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot to process and a lot going on \u2026 but it was good to sing together. Thanks for getting creative with me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThank you,\u201d said one student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYes,\u201d said another, 12 feet away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYes,\u201d said another, 12 more feet away, as if simple affirmation was all that was needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYes,\u201d said Bergey. \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This summer, Eastern Mennonite University music professor Benjamin Bergey has been reading&#8230;and reading&#8230;and reading. For a while, not a week would go by without more new information about aerosolization, how <a href=\"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2020\/how-can-emu-keep-from-singing-physically-distanced-outdoor-singing-session-is-a-trial-run-for-choir-this-fall\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"more-link\">... read more <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">about \u2018How Can EMU Keep From Singing?\u2019 Physically  distanced outdoor singing session is a trial run for choir this fall<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":46653,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17774,7931,17562,5642,5183,12507],"tags":[17694],"feature":[17427,17426,17241,17422],"class_list":["post-46646","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-admissions-digest","category-arts","category-digest","category-faculty-and-staff","category-music","category-vaca","tag-benjamin-bergey","feature-emu-home-page-feature","feature-myemu-feature","feature-news-feature","feature-news-landing-page-main-feature"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>\u2018How Can EMU Keep From Singing?\u2019 Physically distanced outdoor singing session is a trial run for choir this fall - EMU News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2020\/how-can-emu-keep-from-singing-physically-distanced-outdoor-singing-session-is-a-trial-run-for-choir-this-fall\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u2018How Can EMU Keep From Singing?\u2019 Physically distanced outdoor singing session is a trial run for choir this fall - EMU News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This summer, Eastern Mennonite University music professor Benjamin Bergey has been reading&#8230;and reading&#8230;and reading. 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